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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Senate Committee recommends government work with Muslim communities to ensure Imams are not terror-supporters

The Globe and Mail is reporting:

A Senate committee says Canada needs to go much further in cracking down on radicalism and terrorism, including a process to certify, or verify, the credentials of Muslim imams as a means of stamping out “extreme ideas.”

The recommendation from the Senate committee on national security and defence represents the view of its Conservative majority but is not supported by members who are Liberal senators.

Intervening in the training of imams, leaders in the Muslim faith, is a surprising suggestion for the Harper Tories, who normally advocate a clear separation of church and state in Canada.

Actually, the recommendations are different and substantially more extensive than The Globe suggests. Some of the recommendations are long overdue, including the investigation of Muslim Brotherhood affiliated entities in Canada, and establishing whether they should be designated as terrorist groups.

One interesting recommendation would be the proposed changes to Canada's Hate Laws to include the glorification of terrorists and terrorist symbols. If implemented, it would land the terrorist-supporting human garbage behind the Khomeinist al Quds Day rallies, with their calls for violence and glorification of terrorism, in jail. As tempting as that proposal is, using Hate Laws for that is a slippery slope best not descended.

The recommendations of The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defense are below, and you can read the entire report HERE.

Recommendation 1 – The Government make it a criminal offence to be a member of a terrorist
group in Canada. Recommendation 2 – The Government investigate and discourage the spread of violent
extremism in Canada as a priority, especially the ideology promoted by the global Islamist
fundamentalist movement. Recommendation 3 – The Government work with “at-risk communities”, especially women, to
encourage and support practices which are in keeping with Canadian values. Recommendation 4 – The Government work to establish a program which provides information
about clear and specific indicators of radicalization to front line workers including teachers, police
officers, prison workers, nurses and doctors. It should do more to encourage Canadians to
anonymously report information regarding terrorism, criminal extremism or suspicious activities
which could pose a threat to safety and security by calling the national security tip line – 1-800-
420-5805. Recommendation 5 – The Government establish a program to support families who report
radicalization and are seeking help. Recommendation 6 – The Government work with Muslim communities to create an effective
counter-narrative to denounce the ideology of Islamist fundamentalism. Recommendation 7 – The Government establish a publicly accessible “No-Visit List,” which
identifies ideological radicals who pose a threat to the security of Canada and who will be
prohibited from visiting. Recommendation 8 – The federal government establish a regular dialogue with the provinces
for the purpose of preventing extremism and radicalization within areas of provincial jurisdiction
including, but not limited to schools, colleges, universities and prisons. Recommendation 9 – The federal government work with the provinces and the Muslim
communities to investigate the options that are available for the training and certification of
imams in Canada. Recommendation 10 – The Government establish a publicly accessible database of those
organizations which have had their charitable status removed on the basis of links to terrorism. Recommendation 11 – When the Government removes charitable status on the basis of
terrorism, it holds individuals responsible for being party to, or providing material support, for
terrorist activity. Recommendation 12 – The Government update the hate laws of Canada and consider
including a prohibition on the glorification of terrorists, terrorist acts and terrorist symbols
connected to terrorism and radicalization. Recommendation 13 – The Government inform Canadians of the threat to the security of
Canada, and that the communications be clear, quantitative, and unambiguous in providing a
realistic overview of the national security situation in Canada and abroad. Recommendation 14 – The Government publish a “Wanted Terrorist List,” of those Canadians
for whom a warrant (national or international) has been issued on grounds of terror related
activities. Recommendation 15 – The Government develop measures to prevent foreign funds from
entering Canada, where such funds, donors or recipients have been linked to radicalization. Recommendation 16 – The Government work with Canadian Security Intelligence Service and
the National Security Advisor to ensure a briefing is available to appropriate federal and
provincial leaders, at least once per year, to ensure they are aware of threats to the security of
Canada within their jurisdiction. Recommendation 17 – Government authorities establish a protocol with Canadian Security
Intelligence Service to require mandatory screening of citizens involved in public outreach. Recommendation 18 – The Government establish a specialized team of lawyers within the
department of the Attorney General of Canada to prosecute terrorism cases and ensure judges
who are selected to hear terrorism cases have specialized background and training about
terrorism. Recommendation 19 – The Government encourage police and Crown prosecutors to enforce
provisions of the Criminal Code in all relevant matters involving terrorism in the criminal and precriminal
space. Recommendation 20 – The Criminal Code be amended in order to empower relevant law
enforcement agencies to lay terrorism charges, without first requiring approval of the Attorney
General of Canada or any other federal or provincial minister of the Crown. Recommendation 21 – The Muslim Brotherhood and entities closely associated with it, be
reviewed by CSIS as a priority, with the intent of determining whether it should be designated a
terrorist entity. Recommendation 22 – The Government should encourage provincial governments to
implement legislation that protect Canadians who are participating in the public discourse from
vexatious litigation. Recommendation 23 – The Government develop and implement statutory authorities among
the national security review bodies, in order to provide for the exchange of operational
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information, referral of investigations, conduct of joint investigations and coordination in the
preparation of reports and that independent reviews be implemented for any department or
agency involved in national security where none currently exists; Recommendation 24 – The Government redesign the Kanishka Project in partnership with
provinces and municipalities on a cost shared basis to emphasize practical projects that
empower “at-risk communities” – especially women – and encourage post-secondary
institutions to work on issues related to terrorism and radicalization. Recommendation 25 – The Government encourage greater coordination, on the part of Public
Safety Canada, for the purposes of facilitating terrorism-related emergency preparedness with
municipalities, provinces and the private sector, and this effort include an analysis of the
continuing utility and appropriateness of the Emergencies Act.